Judges Wary of Think Tank on Student Loan Interest Forgiveness

Sixth Circuit judges appeared skeptical Thursday that a libertarian-leaning Michigan think tank could sue the federal government over its pandemic-era decision to forgive nearly three years worth of student loan interest.

The three-judge panel peppered attorney Russell Ryan with questions about standing and why the interest forgiveness benefited his client—the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which participates in a program that allows certain employees to apply to have their federal student loans wiped away after 10 years of work—and not the employees who took out the loans.

“I see how it’s a wage subsidy for student loan borrowers, but I ...